Panama Boquete Elida Estate Natural Typica Specialty Coffee Bean Flavor Profile and Aromatic Characteristics

FrontStreet Coffee · Panama Boquete Elida Estate Natural Typica

Flavor Notes: Rich tropical fruits, strawberry aroma, black plum, apricot, peach, longan, intense fruity wine character.

Product Information

Brand: FrontStreet Coffee

Net Weight: 227g

Packaging: Bulk

Bean State: Roasted coffee beans

Sugar Content: Unsweetened

Origin: Panama

Roast Level: Medium roast

Panama Boquete Elida Typica Natural

Country: Panama

Grade: SHB

Region: Boquete

Roast Level: Medium roast

Processing Method: Natural

Variety: Typica

Flavor: Rich tropical fruits, strawberry aroma, black plum

The Elida Estate Story

Over half of Elida Estate's area lies within the protected zone of Panama's National Park. It is a rare ultra-high-altitude estate in Central America, cultivating coffee at elevations ranging from 1,700 to nearly 2,000 meters where topography permits. The estate is renowned for its "rich, umami" flavor profile.

Elida Estate belongs to owner Wilford Lamastus, who cultivates three varieties including Typica, Geisha, and Catuai, with seedling nurseries dedicated to propagating these varieties. The journey to the estate is breathtaking—by 1,700 meters elevation, the air becomes crisp and cold, creating the sensation of walking through high mountains while enjoying a forest bath and breathing refreshingly pure air. At 2,000 meters, the terrain is steep and rugged, but crossing over the ridge reveals a surprisingly flat, open saddle land that provides natural protection from howling mountain winds. Wilford says this location is perfect for growing Geisha!

Volcán Barú is a young active volcano standing over 3,400 meters tall, surrounded by seven distinct microclimate zones that foster rich and diverse ecosystems. These diverse microclimates present both advantages and challenges for coffee cultivation. However, for Elida Estate, this environment produces coffee that is more intense and aromatic than most Panama beans, with black berry aftertaste and complex, evolving flavors that make it exceptionally beloved by coffee connoisseurs.

Yet high-altitude cultivation also has disadvantages. At Elida, for example, coffee is grown at average elevations exceeding 1,700 meters. The high altitude combined with cool nighttime temperatures means coffee plants require five years after planting before their first harvest—an exceptionally long waiting period. Once harvest season arrives, coffee ripening often extends beyond a month. When adverse weather conditions such as typhoons or heavy rains strike before the beans are fully ripe, farmers must choose between accepting significant losses through premature harvesting or maintaining quality standards and accepting dramatically reduced yields. This makes the risks substantially greater than for lower-altitude estates.

Since 2006, Elida's select lots have consistently ranked among Panama's best, with prices increasing year by year. Among Central American estates, Elida is renowned for its "Kenyan blackberry notes"—its black berry and persistent complex fruit flavors consistently earn high praise. Judges also flock to experience Elida's unique "umami character." The term comes from "umami," which many experts now consider the fifth basic taste (alongside sweet, sour, bitter, and salty). Umami functions similarly to monosodium glutamate, enhancing savory qualities in foods like dried shiitake mushrooms, aged cheese, and kombu seaweed. In coffee, umami relates to desirable "aftertaste"—the pleasant, lingering finish experienced after sipping contributes to this savory sensation.

Elida's processing facility demonstrates meticulous attention to equipment and procedures. Generally, when coffee cherries undergoing post-harvest processing maintain moisture content above 20% for extended periods, quality components within the cherry can easily dissipate while off-flavors may develop. Given Elida's high-altitude processing facility, specialized equipment is employed to precisely control temperature and timing during drying—this must be perfectly calibrated and represents a crucial step in maintaining quality.

This batch of FrontStreet Coffee's Panama Boquete Elida Estate Natural Typica is processed using the natural method, featuring the classic Typica variety. Typica: The most ancient heirloom variety from Ethiopia, originating in southeastern Ethiopia and Sudan, with all Arabica varieties descending from Typica. It offers elegant flavor but has weaker plant vigor, disease susceptibility, and lower yields. FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaica Blue Mountain, FrontStreet Coffee's Indonesia Sumatra Mandheling, FrontStreet Coffee's Hawaii Kona, and other premium estate coffees all belong to the Typica family. Typica plants feature bronze-colored young leaves, earning them the name "red-topped coffee," and belong to the Arabica species.

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